Spring 2012 Wetlandkeepers Course
Hundreds of people have taken our nationally-recognized Streamkeepers course, which focuses on the basic skills of monitoring aquatic habitats and getting involved in local volunteer projects.
Full details of the course are available on our News & Events page
The popular Wetlandkeeper and Streamkeeper courses are taught by Michele Jones (R.P. Bio) and Julie Micksch, who are certified by the BC Wildlife Federation. Michele is a registered professional biologist and has had extensive educational experience working with groups from 10 to 80 years of age, for more information check out her website www.mimulus.ca. Julie is an experienced wildlife biologist and has taught outdoor programs for over 10 years.
Streamkeepers Course
The course covers streams includes both field and class work. During a 2.5 day introduction to stream stewardship monitoring skills are emphasized. Participants will conduct habitat surveys, test water quality, sample and identify aquatic invertebrates and much more. Participants need a reasonable level of fitness (walking on trails and in-creek) for participation. Upon completion of the course, participants will be awarded a Streamkeepers Certificate.
The Pacific Streamkeepers Federation, Capilano College and the federal
Department of Fisheries and Oceans certify our Streamkeepers instructors.
The course will cover all types of wetlands, including estuaries. During a 2.5 day introduction to wetland stewardship, participants will visit local wetlands, learn how to identify and map wetlands, and conduct plant and bird inventories. Participants need a reasonable level of fitness (walking on trails and in-creek) for participation. Upon completion of the course, participants will be awarded a Wetlandkeepers Certificate from the BC Wildlife Federation.
_____________________________________________________
Additional Wetlandkeeper Resources
Beginners Guide to Birding by John Neville – info. at www.nevillerecording.com
Bird Songs of Canada’s West Coast by John Neville – info. at www.nevillerecording.com
Birding -Interactive and Audio CDs
Birds of North America – Interactive Multimedia Birding CD-Rom by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology More info at www.thayerbirding.com
The Comox Valley Naturalist Society - Monthly meetings are held at the Florence Filberg Centre (411 Anderton Avenue, Courtenay, BC) on the 3rd Sunday of the month at 7:00 pm. http://www.comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca
Birding Websites
Breeding Bird Atlas – The BC Breeding Bird Atlas is a seven year project to determine the distribution and relative abundance of birds across British Columbia. There is a wealth of information within this website including easy to download species list that you can customize to the area your visiting. http://www.birdatlas.bc.ca/english/index.jsp
Canadian Museum of Nature – Interactive website produced by Nature.ca Fun games for the beginner birder. Provides info on improving identification skills. Great website for kids too. http://nature.ca/discover/exb/index_e.cfm
Cornell Lab of Ornithology – An incredible birding resource for the beginner to advanced. Everything from “tips to identifying birds” to in depth research papers. http://www.birds.cornell.edu
Wildlife Tree Stewardship Program – Wildlife Tree Stewardship (WiTS) is an environmental stewardship program of BC Nature (The Federation of BC Naturalists). Their goal is the protection of Wildlife Trees – trees that provide habitat for nesting birds and other animals. http://www.wildlifetree.org
Mapping Websites
Comox Valley Regional District IMAP tool – habitat atlas and orthophotos for the area within the CVRD http://www.imap.rdcs.bc.ca/imap/onpoint
Community Mapping Network – includes SHIM (Sensitive Habitat Inventory Mapping), BC Wetlands, Wildlife Tree Atlas, The Canada Bird Studies Atlas and many, many more… www.shim.bc.ca
Declination Calculator – geomag.nrcan.gc.ca/apps/mdcal-eng.php
Species at Risk and Wildlife Websites
BC Frog Watch Program – The BC Frogwatch is a program to collect information on frog and toad populations in British Columbia. www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/frogwatch
BC Species and Ecosystems at Risk – www.env.gov.bc.ca/atrisk/toolintro.html
Manuals and other Wetland Resources
The BC Wildlife Federation Wetlandkeepers Program – workshops that educate participants about wetland restoration, rehabilitation and conservation. www.bcwf.bc.ca/programs/wetlands/wetlandkeepers.html
Resource Inventory Committee Standards (RISC) – The committee that develops resource inventory standards (flora and fauna) for BC – www.ilmb.gov.bc.ca/risc/standards.htm
Wetlands of BC – Guide to Classification www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/docs/lmh/lmh52.htm
Mimulus Biological Consultants – Mimulus Biological Consultants based in the Comox Valley is a respected, consulting firm that provides consulting, inventory and assessment service www.mimulus.ca
_______________________________________________
Go home or view more news & events.
